[humanser] A question for the group

Wed Feb 25 04:19:08 UTC 2009

Hi Again Jeff & All:

In my little mind everyone has a disability.  Everyone has a neurosis, all 
of us have strengths and weaknesses.  In the USA we are judged by a jury of 
our peers and some of my peers have secret addictive disorders, some have 
odd sexual proclivities, some have very different spiritual beliefs than I 
do and any of these differences may limit someone's ability to provide sound 
judgment on certain cases;  this is why attorneys and judges are obliged to 
choose a jury from a jury pool.

Should I hesitate to serve my community?  I believe that by claiming to not 
be a peer of that person charged with a crime because of blindness would be 
an abrogation of my responsibilities.  Let the attorneys and judges decide 
if the case is dependent on visual materials, it is our duty to serve.
JD Townsend, LCSW
Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
Helping the light dependent to see.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeffrey Schwartz" <sidney.schwartz at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'Human Services Mailing List'" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 8:55 PM
Subject: Re: [humanser] A question for the group

>I guess that it is simply up  to the conscience of the blind individual.  I
> there is one chance in a thousand that I would miss something important, I
> simply would not want to let another person's liberty or life ride on my
> need to prove that a blind person can do anything that a sighted one can.
> I'm back to the cab driver and neurosurgeon.  NFB demagoguery   is simply
> wrong.  There are some things that we simply can not do.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Jan Bailey
> Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 8:49 PM
> To: Human Services Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [humanser] A question for the group
>
> I think all of the visual evidence could be described. I've read a lot of
> court cases, and that visual evidence just backs up the witnesses oral
> testimony. Then when the jury gets the case there is a lot of chance for
> discussion and going over the evidence, so I wouldn't feel uncomfortable
> about having visual evidence, because I would ask any questions I would
> have, and go over the testimony of the witness. A witness always has to
> testify and explain the evidence that is offered by either attorney.
>
> Jan
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jeffrey Schwartz" <sidney.schwartz at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "'Human Services Mailing List'" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 4:44 PM
> Subject: Re: [humanser] A question for the group
>
>
>> J.D.
>> As I think about it, there can be much more than pictures.  Depending on
>> the
>> case there can  be an array of visual evidence.  On TV attorneys seem to
>> be
>> very proud of their charts, time lines and other visual charts and
>> displays.
>> I don't feel in good conscience that I could be as good a juror as I 
>> would
>> be sighted.  A great deal depends upon the case, of course.  I would 
>> hate,
>> however, to make a sociological point with someone's life or freedom
>> resting
>> in the balance.  There are issues more important than how a small 
>> segment,
>> in a rare circumstance views the blind.  Would you want a blind cab 
>> driver
>> or neurosurgeon?  Would you insist on your guide dog's right to go into
>> the
>> operating room.  Most of my dentists and periodontists  as well as
>> internists have let my dog come with me.  A number of them, dog lovers,
>> appreciated it.  I did, however,  have one dentist who didn't want the 
>> dog
>> in the room.  He wore a gown, mask, goggles and head gear.  I think that
>> he
>> was afraid of getting a faceful of HIV or Hep C.  I don't blame him.  New
>> Haven has the highest per capita rate of AIDs in the country and he had 
>> an
>> inner city practice.  It's a complicated issue and good judgment must
>> dictate the parameters, not dogmatic adherence to our rights.  The latter
>> can make us look celf centered and foolish.
>> Jeff
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Jeffrey Schwartz
>> Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 4:08 PM
>> To: 'Human Services Mailing List'
>> Subject: Re: [humanser] A question for the group
>>
>> You may be waiting a very long time.  As a social worker, or other mental
>> health professional prosecutors don't want us on the jury.  They think
>> that
>> we are too lenient and excuse antisocial behavior on the grounds that the
>> perpetrator is only a sad victim of his deprived childhood.
>> Jeff Schwartz, PhD.
>> Clinical Psychologist
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of JD Townsend
>> Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 3:07 PM
>> To: Human Services Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [humanser] A question for the group
>>
>>
>> Hi All:
>>
>> I've been waiting a long time for a call to jury duty with no letter.  In
>> Florida the jury rolls are determined by driver licenses, so it makes me
>> wonder if my non-driver license may not find it's way into the selection
>> box.  Like Melissa I've known blind friends who have serve.
>>
>> Pictures play only a small part in the vast majority of cases.  And, 
>> blind
>> jurors don't fall into the trap of the defendant who looks guilty.
>> Listening is the biggest skill for jurors and I can say with some pride
>> that
>>
>> many blind folks can give the light dependent a run for their money on
>> listening skills.
>>
>>
>> JD Townsend, LCSW
>> Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
>> Helping the light dependent to see.
>>
>>
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